Share on

Claudia Bokel to head IOC Athletes’ Commission

Claudia Bokel was elected today as new Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission for a two-year term, replacing outgoing head Frank Fredericks. IOC President Jacques Rogge officially appointed Bokel as Chair following a proposal by the Commission.

Bokel, a former Olympic fencer, is expected to replace Fredericks on the IOC Executive Board for the duration of her term pending approval by the 124th IOC Session on 26 July 2012.

“I am humbled by the trust my colleagues have put in me and want to continue the successful work of our previous chairpeople,” Bokel said. “I am deeply committed to the topics that are important to us as athletes: the Olympic Games, the fight against doping, the environment, women and sport, creating a level playing field for all athletes, and the Athlete Career Programme. The latter is particularly close to my heart and when I eventually reach the end of my term I would like to look back and see that this programme has grown stronger through greater outreach activities and job placements for athletes.”

Fredericks congratulated Bokel, saying: “It was a great honour for me to chair this important Commission and represent the voice of athletes in the IOC Executive Board for the past four years. From my experience, we can really make a big impact in a number of areas and serve our peers. I wish my successor all the best for her new mandate and am sure she will be a great advocate for the athletes in the Olympic Movement.”

About Claudia BokelBokel, a silver medallist at the 2004 Athens Games, is a former athlete representative of the German Fencing Federation and chair of the German Athletes Commission. She also chaired the European Olympic Committees Athletes Commission. Bokel was voted onto the IOC Athletes’ Commission at Beijing 2008 and became its Vice-Chair in 2010. For more information, click here.

IOC Athletes’ Commission elections in LondonThe Athletes’ Commission will also welcome four new members at the end of the Games. From 16 July until 8 August, all athletes participating in London 2012 are eligible to vote for four of the 21 candidates running for election to the Athletes’ Commission, with current members Fredericks, Hicham El Guerrouj, Rania Elwani, and Jan Zelezny all finishing their terms of office. Each voter will be asked to select four candidates from four different sports to ensure a varied representation from the Olympic sports programme. The results will be announced on 9 August at 2 p.m. at the Village Media Centre in the London Olympic Village. After approval by the IOC Session on 12 August, the four elected athletes will become IOC members for an eight-year term of office.

About the IOC Athletes’ CommissionThe Commission, which meets one or two times per year, serves as a consultative body and is the link between active athletes and the IOC. It is composed of 12 athletes (eight summer and four winter) elected for eight years by the athletes participating in the Olympic Games, and of up to seven athletes appointed by the IOC President, to ensure a balance between regions, genders and sports. In addition, a representative of the World Olympians Association (WOA) and a representative of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are ex-officio members.

What the Athletes’ Commission does:• Makes recommendations to and participates in the IOC’s main commissions and working groups• Works in liaison with the athletes’ commissions of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs), Continental Associations, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)• Participates in the Olympic Games Candidate City evaluation process • Raises awareness among athletes of all categories in the fight against doping • Oversees the IOC Athlete Career Programme (education, life skills and employment)• Encourages women to take leadership positions in sports administration• Promotes a healthy environment for everyone